Akbaruddin Owaisi plea to delay police deposition

MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi greeted by supporters at Shamsabad Airport on his return to Hyderabad on Monday morning. Mr Owaisi has been charged with making hate speech and inciting violence. Photo: Special Arrangement

Nirmal town observed a bandh in anticipation of MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi's arrival on Monday. Meanwhile Mr Owaisi, who returned to Hyderabad from London early on Monday, sought four days time to appear before the Nirmal police in connecetion with the cases filed against him.

Advcoate Mohd. Ismail representing the MIM legislator, who is facing a series of cases for his alleged 'hate speech' on December 22, petitioned that Mr. Owaisi would need a "minimum of four days" for his medical treatment to be complete. But the police authorities concerned were yet to take a decision on the request

As Mr. Owaisi was expected to appear before the police at 10.30 am, local BJP leaders made a vain bid to take out a rally in protesting his remarks. The police, posted in large numbers, prevented them from taking out a procession to the police station.BJP workers jostled to gain forcible entry into the police station premises which resulted in a lathi charge and the arrest of the BJP district president and 15 others .

Earlier Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi was received by a large number of party followers and MLAs at the Shamshabad airport.

Agencies add:

As part of further probe into two cases, notices were issued to Ms Owaisi on January 4 and he was directed to appear before investigation officers of Nirmal (Rural) police in Adilabad district on January 7 and before the Nizambad II Town police on January 8. Another notice was served on Mr Owaisi by the Osmania University Police directing him to appear before them on January 10.

Two FIRs were registered suo motu at Adilabad and Nizamabad districts while a third case was filed against the MLA by Osmania University Police following a court directive after the Floor Leader in Andhra Pradesh Assembly had allegedly used inflammatory and derogatory language against a particular community during his public speeches last month.

Mr Owaisi has been booked under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

He has also been booked under IPC section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India).

Slideshow

Preparation for celebrating the Festival of Colours - Holi is in full swing with small-time vendors and in Begum Bazar and others areas in Hyderabad stocking materials like colours and Chinese sprayers. Photos: Mohammed Yousuf.